Weissport deals with playground vandalism

Now that the Weissport Playground is completed, council finds it has another issue to deal with vandalism.

Weissport Council members this week discussed contacting a security company to seek a solution to the problem.

Tim Rehrig, council president; said that his goal is to update the borough ordinance relating to vandalism and other issues within the borough to raise the cost of fines.

Currently fines are anywhere from $10 to $300, and he said he would like to raise the fines from the initial $10, to at least $200 for an offense, and up it to $300 or more.

Rehrig also said that the borough needs to update the handicapped parking ordinance because he believes that some signs are no longer needed; plus the borough must enact an ordinance to establish handicapped parking at the playground.

"It would be cheaper to get the ordinance done all at once, rather than one at a time," he said. Rehrig said that costs to update an ordinance is about $250.

Council also discussed the costs for J-Net for the police department.

Police Chief Steve Mansueto said that he had no explanation for the $481 bill from PenTeleData, but that the monthly cost for the service is $60 a month. He also requested a laptop for use in the police vehicle. He said that the computer has a police alert system.

Council plans to seek information about the PenTeleData bill from the secretary.

Mansueto said that the former mayor and police chief made the arrangements with PenTeleData and that the secretary may be able to shed light on the details.

In other police business, council announced that two bids were received for the old police car.

Council also discussed purchasing a newer model dump truck with a plow to handle plowing for winter storms.

Dennis Moser, borough worker, said that he has gathered some estimates ranging from $36,000 to $41,800. He noted that some estimates include a snow plow.